Improvement in shoe-fasteners



'G. P. REEVES.

Shne-Fastener.

N0 I66 031 Patentedluly27,l875,

@Wl'iiiy NJETEM. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON o c UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GEORGE P. REEVES, OF HELENA, MONTANA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF AND CHARLES RUMLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,031, dated July 27, 1875 application filed March 29, 1875. v

the lacing-strings may be easily applied and securely tightened; and it consists of a lacer applied by prongs to the leather or other material, and provided with a central concavity and surrounding ridge, open toward a hookshaped part, which is turned back far enough to prevent the catching of the dress or other objects thereon.

In the drawing, A represents my improved lacer, a suitable number of which is attached firmly by the pointed prongs to the leather or other material to be laced. Each lacer A is stamped by suitable machinery out of sheet metal with a raised circumferential ridge. to, having a central concavity or depression. The

6' ridge a is open at one side, so that a hookshaped part, (1, may be turned back and bent down far enough to admit readily the lacingstrings, but without catching the dress or other objects coming in contact therewith. The strings are readily passed around the hooks of the lacer, and applied tightly thereon, forming a neat and convenient open lacing for various purposes, which admit the quick application of the strings with greater facility and with greater comfort than the eyelet or other lacers hitherto in use.

I am aware that it is not new to make a shoe-lacer with a curved spring-shank and conveX head, but the former is liable to straighten and become useless, while the latter is liable to be caught by some part of the dress; hence What I claim is- The shoe-fastening A provided with suitable prongs for securing it to the shoe, and having the central concavity b, the surrounding ridge or projection a, and the hook d bent to fall within the ends of the curved portion, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

GEORGE P. REEVES. Witnesses:

WILLIAM C-. CHILD, PREs'roN ScoT'r. 

